The qualified Reflexologist is not giving a foot massage for relaxation or pleasure but is working to bring about homeostasis for the entire body through reflex areas in the feet, hands and ears. The techniques are specific to the modality of Reflexology: finger and thumb walking -- an inchworm like technique where the digit moves across the reflexes, point holds, rotation on a point, hooking into a point and gently pulling back into the reflex.
When a client visits a Reflexologist she is expected to give detailed accounts of her health history which will include:
- Medications - immediate past and present
- History of surgeries and major illnesses
- Current health concerns and complaints
With this information the Reflexologist will create a custom treatment for that session and future treatments. Spending extra time or adjusting techniques for reflex areas that may be imbalanced will be a large part of this treatment plan.
Reflexology and the Lung Reflexes
Located across the balls of the feet, balls of the hands, and in the lower valley of the ears, the lung reflex areas correspond to the lungs, bronchi, and bronchioles. Focus work here would be to encourage deeper, relaxed breathing during a Reflexology session as well as attention for respiratory disorders such as:
- Asthma - a condition where the bronchi wall muscles contract and cause breathlessness in the sufferer.
- Bronchitis - an inflammatory condition of the lung passages causing breathlessness, wheezing, phlegm, and pain in the upper chest.
Additionally the Reflexologist might spend extra time on these reflex areas for clients that report a nicotine smoking habit, chest cold, or other respiratory conditions.
Reflexology for the Breast Reflexes
Extra attention to the reflex areas corresponding to the breasts, for both sexes, may seek to alleviate discomfort or support the reflexes. The breasts are reflected on the balls of the feet with the nipple lining up near the fourth metatarsal-phalangeal joint.
- Breast cancer - techniques to comfort the chest and breast area during chemotherapy or direct radiation may be applied to the breast reflex points.
- Mastitis - painful breast condition caused by a bacterial infection, can interrupt lactation and the breast reflexes are often very sensitive to the touch.
Focus work on the breast reflexes might also include clients recovering from breast reconstructive surgery (reduction or enlargement), lactating clients, fibrocystic breast disease and other conditions of the breasts.
Reflexology and the Heart Reflex
There are different beliefs and opinions of where the heart reflex lies in the Reflexology community. Some portray the heart reflex area on the left foot under the metatarsal-phalangeal joint while others map it on the metatarsal-phalangeal joint of the great toe. An even further opinion is that the latter location, where bunions may form, is the "emotional" heart relating to how we feel and the heart chakra, not the physical heart.
The Reflexologist might wish to spend more time on the heart reflex as part of a circulatory system or cardiovascular system focused treatment, or based on a client's history of heart disease in the family. Extra care is taken for the client recovering from heart surgery, a heart transplant or if he is on heart medication.
How do I find a "Real" Reflexologist?
In an unregulated field such as Reflexology finding a well-trained and competent practitioner can be like finding a needle in a haystack! Spas advertise "Reflexology" quite freely with little attention to whether the massage therapist meets national education standards or even knows the difference between a foot massage and Reflexology session.
In the United States the American Reflexology Certification Board will be a helpful organization to consult their online member directory. UK readers can consult with the Association of Reflexologists' online member directory as well. Other Reflexology associations exist around the globe and many offer searchable directories.
Resources:
- Wills, Pauline, The Reflexology Manual, (1995) Healing Arts Press
- The author's personal experience as a Board Certified Reflexologist in private practice
Amy Kreydin - Amy Kreydin, NBCRT, CCAP, BD is a Board Certified Reflexologist and Clinical Aromatherapist.
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